Operation and maintenance News

In a proactive move towards energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, Pacific Basin, a dry bulk shipping company, has decided to apply a sustainable graphene-based propeller coating, XGIT-PROP, across its entire fleet. This innovative coating, developed by Canadian company GIT Coatings, has demonstrated the potential to enhance vessel performance by up to 4%, which also makes it a highly effective solution to improve CII and RightShip GHG ratings. Decarbonisation initiative Followin...

International® Marine Coatings has published a new whitepaper that reveals the high degree of accuracy of its predictive Intertrac® Vision tool to real-life vessel operations by correlating to the speed loss of a globally trading VLCC vessel over a five-year docking period, in line with the principles of the ISO 19030 standard. International® used the forecasting tool to project a 1.4 percent speed loss over a 60-month in-service period which proved to be in line with actual ve...

The 18th Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), held from 13 to 15 March 2024, welcomed an unprecedented number of 15,717 attendees in Singapore. This figure surpassed attendance records of previous editions, signifying a positive revitalisation of Asia Pacific's maritime sector and solidifying Singapore's position as a pioneering maritime hub. Held at the Marina Bay Sands, the event showcased an extensive range of 710 exhibitors and featured 150 industry speakers worldwide. This year's theme, 'Future of...

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received a large order for three cranes that will be installed onboard a state-of-the-art cable layer due delivery from global shipbuilder - VARD.The contract has been booked into Cargotec's first quarter 2024 order intake, with crane supply scheduled for the third quarter of 2025. Crane and OnWatch solution MacGregor will deliver a 100-tonne active heave-compensated (AHC) crane, a 20T Offshore crane, and a 3T deck crane to Prysmian, to equip the Italian owner&...

Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard in Italy is scheduled to take delivery of Thordon’s COMPAC open seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing system for installation to the second ship in Oceania Cruises’ Allura class, which is scheduled to join the Miami-based company’s fleet in 2025. The twin screw Oceania Allura will feature three COMPAC bearings per shaft to fit propeller shaft diameters of 510mm (20.7in). The same scope was supplied to the 67,000gt first...

In just two weeks, the highly anticipated 18th edition of Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) is set to herald the largest gathering of the global maritime value chain in Southeast Asia. Networking and delegation visits From 13 to 15 March 2024, over 1,400 global brands will be present at the conference and exhibition, spanning 17 pavilions across six expansive halls of Singapore's Marina Bay Sands.   From closed-door networking sessions and delegation visits to product launches and busines...

Danfoss’ new Universal Quick Disconnect (UQD) couplings provide superior performance and reliability for liquid cooling, ensuring peak performance for critical applications. Engineered for the precision cooling requirements of modern data centres, the couplings drive a strong return on investment through robust design, long service life and lower maintenance. Ideal for liquid cooling applications that use smaller hose lines, Danfoss UQD couplings are available in four sizes, as well as va...

Ahlsell Norway AS has agreed to purchase all shares in Protektiv AS. The company was founded in 1992 and specialises in workwear and Personal Protection Equipment, as well as having an extensive printing business. The company employs 28 people and the turnover in 2022 amounted to 82 MNOK. Expertise and presence The store, warehouse, and offices are located in Skien, where they deliver goods and services to both large and small customers in Östlandet, south of Oslo. With its wide range o...

Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), the largest meeting place in Southeast Asia for the global maritime value chain, will return for its 18th installment in Singapore from 13 to 15 March 2024 at the Marina Bay Sands.  The premier exhibition and conference is expected to bring together more than 14,000 shipowners, shipyards, ship management, and technical procurers to meet over 1,400 solutions providers.  Solutions and services “For the past few months, we have been reconnecting with...

The two new Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) contracted at Ulstein Verft will be equipped with a hybrid battery propulsion system and be prepared for green methanol fuel to enable carbon-neutral operations. The contracts have been entered into on behalf of institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management and include two additional options. In 2023, Bernhard Schulte Offshore ordered the design and construction of two such vessels from Ulstein, a contract that include...

Siemens Smart Infrastructure is expanding its fire safety offering on Building X through newly launched applications and an application programming interface (API) to increase transparency, decrease response time in case of incidents, and enhance maintenance processes for service providers. Building X Building X is a digital building platform that supports customers to digitalise, manage, and optimise their building operations. This leads to an enhanced user experience, increased performance...

Technology group Wärtsilä introduces EvoTube, a revolutionary and patented advancement in Shaft Line technology for marine propulsion systems, reducing risk and simplifying operations. While based on a conventional stern tube, the EvoTube is a significantly simplified system with fewer components than a conventional stern tube system.  The inboard seal is mounted directly on the aft bearing housing, and the forward bearing is replaced with a standalone bearing inside the eng...

A seamless application of shipping’s first antifouling coating to successfully integrate highly durable graphene provides further evidence that Gibdock’s remains ahead of the curve as a ship repair and conversion yard geared up for a sustainable maritime future. The Gibraltar yard recently hosted the Vulica Shipping Company-owned bulk carrier - Donald M James for a 30-day project, which brought a first opportunity to work with a new type of coating from GIT Coatings (Graphite Innova...

Alfa Laval OceanGlide has been selected by Kumiai Navigation (PTE) LTD to be installed on one of its LPG tankers as a retrofit. The company’s decision to leverage fluidic air lubrication technology is rooted in its ambition to reduce the vessel's energy consumption, improve its overall performance and comply with environmental regulations. Alfa Laval OceanGlide fluidic air lubrication system Alfa Laval has been selected for installation of its OceanGlide fluidic air lubrication system o...

NIBCO Inc. expands its line of carbon steel fittings to bring more press options for plumbing and mechanical carbon steel pipe applications and fuel and gas carbon steel pipe applications. The BenchPress and BenchPressG fittings are designed for efficiency, with easy, clean, and fast installation, for a wider range of applications. The line features a patented fitting design that creates consistent joints, is flame-free and environmentally friendly. BenchPressG fittings “This expansion...

According to the new “Value of Reliability” survey from ABB, over two-thirds of industrial businesses experience unplanned outages at least once a month, costing the typical business close to $125,000 per hour. Despite this, 21 percent of businesses surveyed still rely on run-to-fail maintenance. Managing maintenance The survey, conducted by Sapio Research in July 2023, gathered responses from 3,215 plant maintenance decision-makers globally across the energy generation, plas...

Ship operators can reduce their fuel use and emissions output by using Silverstream Technologies' air lubrication system (ALS) with AkzoNobel’s fouling control coatings, a new white paper has revealed. Marine industry experts from both businesses have collaborated to show that a combination of air lubrication and the right fouling control coatings can reduce hull resistance and increase efficiency to give vessel owners a “clear competitive edge”. Ship’s frictional resis...

DNV has published new guidelines for the safe installation of onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) systems on board ships, amid growing pressure on the shipping industry to develop effective technologies to reduce emissions as part of the ongoing maritime energy transition. Different methods for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be necessary to achieve international, regional, and national emissions targets. Post-combustion OCCS on board trading ships is expected to be among the...

B.F.E. Bonney Forge is one of the first European companies to secure certification for a spare part intended for field operations through the application of AM technology. This achievement signifies a major milestone in the manufacturing landscape, one that demonstrates the potential of this innovative technology to reshape the future of pressure equipment under the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU (PED). CE-certified pressure vessel The collaboration builds upon the successes of the s...

Accelleron has signed a strategic partnership with METIS Cyberspace Technology that will expand the number of marine installations and power generation facilities that can use data analytics to improve turbocharger operation and maintenance. METIS develops data-collecting hardware and IoT solutions that can be easily deployed in vessels and facilities to achieve automated, real-time data availability. Under the cooperation, METIS will provide onboard and cloud-based data infrastructure to Accel...

Global maritime leaders sailed full steam ahead into London in their thousands to attend the biennial London International Shipping Week 2023 (LISW23), which took place from 11th September to 15th September, 2023. More than 70 countries were represented by the 30,000 delegates, while a large number of overseas trade delegations met with UK Government officials as London and the UK underlined their importance in the global supply chain. London International Shipping Week 2023 (LISW23) At the s...

In July 2023, at MEPC 80, the IMO adopted the '2023 Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships'. This strategy targets the adoption of near-zero GHG fuels by 2030. A pivotal factor in this transition is choosing the right coating for fuel tanks — it ensures longevity and maintains the tank's optimal condition. Shipping companies invest a significant amount of consideration into the choice of coating systems for their vessel's fuel tank interiors. A failure in this coating can h...

Faced with tough competition for greener fuels from other sectors, new 2030 maritime emission targets hang in the balance. According to the latest edition of DNV‘s Maritime Forecast to 2050, the shipping industry will find it challenging to secure enough supply of carbon-neutral fuels. The report emphasises the need to consider all alternative approaches to reducing emissions and to take action now to secure future success. Carbon emission reductions Maritime sector needs to access a st...

Bespoke solutions provider RMI has given its support to a charter aimed at improving and supporting the mental health of North Sea workers, becoming the latest signatory in industry-wide efforts led by the North Sea Chapter of the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC). With over 20 years of health and safety provision to the offshore industry, RMI is well positioned to utilise and build upon its existing mental health provision to further promote and encourage open conversati...

Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) has joined the major classification societies to amend its rules relating to the inspection of seawater-lubricated propeller shaft systems. The amendment means that ships with open seawater-lubricated propeller shafts that are built to ClassNK rules are subject to the same 15-year shaft withdrawal inspection periods as oil-lubricated shafts and stern-tubes, subject to monitoring criteria. ClassNK amends rules for seawater-lubricated shafts The announcement brings...

Isaac Hankes, Senior Weather Analyst at London Stock Exchange Group, comments: “The Panama Canal is experiencing major, ongoing disruptions in the shipping supply chain due to restrictions on traffic related to very low water levels. This is the result of drought conditions that rapidly developed from the beginning of the year through June and have held steady since that time." He adds, "In fact, 2023 is off to the driest start during January-July since 2015, which had a similar rainfall...

Moving from smart talk to practical solutions and bringing stakeholders together will be the key themes of an industry event organised by Inmarsat, a Viasat business, in partnership with Smart Maritime Network during London International Shipping Week 2023. Staged at Inmarsat headquarters on 12 September, the conference will focus on the increasingly decisive role satellite technology plays in shaping smarter and more sustainable shipping. Highlight of LISW 2023 Headquartered Inmarsat has co...

Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters (HEMEXPO), a major suppliers and exporters association for the international shipping sector, has reached an agreement with the world’s renowned classification society, DNV, for the assessment of energy-saving devices (ESDs) produced by HEMEXPO member companies. Stepwise ESD assessment Under the terms of the agreement, in the first instance, DNV will review a makers list provided by HEMEXPO to identify ESDs that fall in the category o...

There’s no doubt the energy transition is set to be transformative for Scotland’s construction sector. The government’s Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, published earlier this year, carries a clear mandate to deliver an energy system this decade that enables us to become a net-zero nation by 2045. As demand continues to mount for renewable energy developments – from onshore and offshore wind to hydrogen, solar, marine and hydropower, and even projects aime...

Shipowners face an ultimatum in 2023, upgrade their Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) technology to comply with new laws or scrap their vessels. CII data from 2022 must have been calculated and reported to the Data Collection System (DCS) verifier and sent by March 21, 2024, and 30% of ships simply don’t have the technology onboard to do it.  New carbon targets The move comes as the International Marine Organization (IMO) in July announced new carbon targets, which include a 20% red...